Exploring how age, medication usage, and dentures effect the sensory perception and liking of oral nutritional supplements in older adults

Sensory perception of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) by older and younger adults has been investigated, but few studies have examined the sensory perception of ONS within different older adult cohorts. This study sought to investigate effects of older age, dentures, and medications on sensory perception, liking, and intake of a high- and low-viscosity ONS (0.009 and 0.177 Pa.s respectively at 50.1 s⁻¹) and assess effects of ONS on appetite. Eighty older adults (51 aged 65–74 years, 29 aged 75 + years, mean age 74 ± 8 years, age range 65–97 years, 35 men, 45 women) evaluated two ONS over two different days. Each ONS (200 mL) was consumed over five sips (40 mL each). The panellists evaluated each sip using a check-all-that-apply questionnaire (CATA) comprising taste and texture attributes. After each CATA evaluation panellists recorded their liking using a 9-point hedonic scale followed by their hunger, fullness, desire to consume more ONS, and thirst using 100 mm visual analogue scales. The over 75 year olds had significantly lower appetite than the 65–74 year olds on tasting both ONS. Denture wearing influenced the mouthfeel while medication status effected the flavour perception of the high viscosity ONS. Liking did not change across the five sips for any study cohort, however, sensory perception changed with increasing sips. This study provides insight on factors affecting ONS adherence in older adults. Avoiding perceptions of watery/runny mouthfeel while maintaining creaminess may improve acceptability and adherence. The study justifies the CATA methodology for use in different older adult cohorts.